✨ Rating: 3 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: romance cynic meets hopeless romantic
🎶 Song: too sweet - hozier
📖 Favourite Quote: "Loving someone means choosing them every day regardless of all the things that might stand in your way."
📚 Would I recommend? if you're looking for a hozier fan fiction, then sure
💬 Final thoughts: I couldn't really connect with the characters and the relationship felt a little too surface level.

In the package:
📦 yearning for days
📦 poetic and introverted MMC
📦 rockstar romance

The story follows Clementine Clark, a former theatre kid turned small‑town waitress, that buries her musical dreams to care for her ailing mom. She receives a life‑changing offer: join Irish megastar Tom Halloran as his backing vocalist on his first US tour. She's a romance cynic who believes relationships never works out and he's a hopeless romantic, what could go wrong?

I'll keep this one short: rockstar romances are either a hit or miss for me, and this one was more of a miss. Clementine's constant emotional self-sabotage kinda ruined the book. She always had one foot out the door up until 85% of the book. I wasn't really feeling the romance between the characters but I did love the side characters and the found family trope. Best part of the book imo.

2🌟

This was the biggest miss ever. I was sooo excited for this and it truly let me down!! I could not possibly believe that this was allowed to be published, honestly. I slogged my way through the last third of the book because I simply could not do it anymore!!

Obviously, we knew this was going to be a Hozier-inspired fanfiction from the day the cover dropped. I knew that going in, but GOD I did not expect it to be this obsessive and icky? I know authors take a lot of inspiration from real life and modern events/people, but this was too much for me.

The romance between Clementine and Tom was not it. I normally am not a huge fan of celebrity romances, and this is exactly why. Everything between them was surface level. Clementine was very immature and frustrating, while Tom was bland and unrealistic to me. I could not connect with either of them, let alone believe in their romance. Don't even get me started on the smut scenes, oh my god I was so uncomfortable I needed to bleach my eyes after.

This was truly not good at all. It definitely crossed a line for me. Giving this 2 stars is generous, actually, but it's fine.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the arc.

First of all, I love Kate Golden's books and was honestly thrilled to be selected to read this ARC!

If Not For My Baby was my first rockstar romance and it did not disappoint.This book is adorable, sweet, a little spicy, and gives all the romance feels. The characters were so well written, I was invested! For 2/3s of the book I wanted to slap FMC Clementine for being so annoying and oblivious, but she won me over in the end. She is a true embodiment of a person getting in their own way of happiness. It hits in a real place and Kate did a great job conveying it. MMC rockstar Tom Halloran was so so dreamy. He has a way with words and loves deep. He sees Clementine and loves her completely. Their chemistry is amazing and I fell in love right along with them.

The end of this book was probably my favorite part (though not always the case). I thought the book wrapped up so nicely. If you're looking for a heartfelt, HEA, rockstar romance, this is definitely that book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kate Golden for the amazing opportunity to read this ARC, I enjoyed it so much!

Thank you to Berkley for an early review copy.

Kate Golden's contemporary romance debut follows a famous singer and his background singer, as they have a whirlwind romance on his latest tour. This book is heavily inspired by Hozier, and unfortunately does cross some lines in how much is borrowed from the source material. On the other side, I really enjoyed how Clementine's character was developed and her journey through out the story. Kate Golden's writing translates well into contemporary romance, and I'm interested in seeing more of her in this genre.

As a lover of live music and Irish accents, this is a book after my own heart. Clementine is a flawed yet lovable FMC and I related to her in a lot of ways. After living a bit of a stagnant life, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to sing backup for a rockstar. Enter Tom Halloran, said rockstar with an insane stage presence despite his introverted nature and his struggles with the fame part of the job.

He fell first and the yearning was everything. Kate honestly wrote him perfectly and the poetic things he said made me swoon. Their relationship was full of emotion and life lessons and facing things that scare you. I loved the music parts and now I feel like I need to go listen to some soulful music and pretend I’m living my own romcom in the Irish countryside. I’ll definitely read more from Kate Golden in the future!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe it’s because I just read another soon to be published clear fanfic, but like I druuuuuug through this. It’s very clearly about Hozier and I couldn’t get past it - I literally saw him in concert two days ago and than ended up trying to read this and it was just maybe horrible timing but I was not into it at all. The Irish was also so weirdly overdone, that is not how anyone interacted/talked when I’ve visited and I think that didn’t help overall. Idk I felt this could’ve been left on Wattpad. It really wasn’t for me and maybe I should’ve just DNF’ed. Thank you Berkeley and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Much like the musical inspirations behind this book, there's an otherworldly quality to it, like you've stepped into a fairy glen or a fever dream. The yearning is so well done to angsty perfection!

Tom Halloran is such a special character. I'm not sure I've ever read a "rock star" MMC that is so calm and private like Tom, who quietly takes up space in the background of every scene even if he's not on the page outright. His presence is steady, a lovely complement to Clementine's need for stability, but it's also intense. (The vending machine scene?? SO MUCH is going on there under the surface and I loved every second of it!) It's less common to see such an introspective MMC these days, but I really hope we get more!

Music really lives between the pages of this book. I so enjoyed the tour details, the songs, the way that Tom and Clementine inspire each other. The side characters are hilarious, bringing a found family vibe to the main couple, both of who are hurting in their own ways when the tour kicks off.

Hozier inspired book? Say less!!!
Clementine is living paycheck to paycheck, trying to stay afloat while caring for her disabled mom. When Clementine's mom isn't accepted into a clinical trial, she's let down and trying to figure out how to come up with extra money. When Clementine receives a life changing offer to be a backup singer for a popular rockstar, with 80k pay, how could she say no?
If you are looking for a MMC that yearns like no other, this is the book for you! Everything about this book is so luscious.
The characters, the music, the setting, the romance!! The original song lyrics were so poetic and beautiful. Getting to watch Clementine learn how to grow into her own wings & go after what she wants was so powerful. Tom's love for her was so strong, even when Clem was trying to deny her feelings towards him. Again, the yearning is out of this world!!!
I loved the relationship between Clem and her mom, the chronic illness representation in this story was greatly written. This was my first book by Kate, but I look forward to jumping into her fantasy books!

https://www.instagram.com/p/

My very first rockstar romance, and it absolutely did not disappoint! I’m so thrilled I got to read this eARC from Kate Golden (thank you so much!!), because I already adore her books, and this one hit all the right notes.

We follow Clem, a fiercely responsible and emotionally complex FMC who’s spent most of her life caring for others before herself. When she crosses paths with Tom aka Holloran, the grumpy, guarded rockstar with a soft spot buried under his stage persona & sparks fly. Their chemistry is intense, the slow burn is so worth it, and the emotional payoff had me swooning hard.

I loved the found family vibes and watching Clem slowly come into her own while navigating love, grief, and healing. Her journey felt so real and relatable, especially for anyone who’s ever had to grow up too fast. And Tom was absolute book boyfriend material. Protective, moody, and secretly sweet. I’m obsessed. 😮‍💨🔥

This was angsty, heartfelt, and full of tension in the best way, definitely a must-read!

I loved, this angsty, age gap, rockstar romance that sees Clementine, a 24 year old Texas waiter/slash aspiring broadway actress/singer asked to step in at the last minute as a backup singer for Irish rockstar Halloran (Tom) on his American tour.

What starts off as a grumpy/sunshine friendship quickly turns to something more when Tom falls hard for Clementine and the two give in to their undeniable chemistry. When the tour ends though will Clem be brave enough to take a chance on love with Tom and leave her chronically ill single mother home alone?

This was STEAMY, emotional and just plain fun!! I loved the audiobook narrators and highly recommended for fans of books like Heartstrings by Ivy Fairbanks or Daisy Jones and the Six and movies like Almost Famous or A star is born. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I could give PRH Audio a big ol smooch for this advanced listening copy! ✨

As soon as Eric Nolan’s Irish lilt entered my ears as Tom, I knew this was gonna be a really *really* good time. I love a dual narration and this is one of my favorite deliveries by far!

If Not for My Baby is Kate Golden’s contemporary romance debut and I need more from her immediately! This book yearned so good with writing so poetically angsty, I could feel it pulling in my chest and sizzling in my bloodstream. For the music lovers, specifically of Hozier and Florence + The Machine, this book is a swelling crescendo of emotions with characters so easy to love and a storyline so compelling, you’ll either want to hit the road with a touring folk band or don a flowy dress and dance in a field 🌾

Side note: I will never be able to listen to Take Me to Church the same ever again…sheesh 😮‍💨

Can’t wait to reread and annotate a copy! See you, August 5th, INFMB

To NetGalley and Berkeley Romajce, thank you so much for this arc! This was a highly anticipated read and as soon as I saw the approval for this I was so excited! I’m so happy to say this book did not disappoint in the slightest.

Ugh the passion and yearning between Halloran and Clem was perfection. Their slow burn had me hooked through the book. The spice was just the perfect amount, not too much and not too little. I could just feel how in love these two were with each other.

I also loved seeing Clem fit in with the rest of the band. Her friendships she developed with the girls was so fun! And I loved how going on this tour opened her eyes to se just how much of life she was missing out on!

Overall, I loved this book and I’m so glad I got to read it! I hope we get more books with some of the other band mates and their love stories too!! 💞

This book gave me butterflies and made me so giddy! The romance is such a sweet and tender slow burn. The way Tom looks at and talks to Clementine—you can see his bridled passion. This felt like such a simple story, but it was done SO well with so much more emotional impact than I was ready for. I cried more than I’d like to admit.

I was swooning over Tom (and his reading choices), I’m dying to know which translation of The Odyssey he prefers.😂 You know, the important things. Ink stained hands, a cup of tea, and classic literature… *sigh* 🤓

I love the way this book captures the way music feels, with both lyrics, and describing on stage performances and crowd energy. If you are a person that FEELS music and live performances in your core, you should read this. These characters felt so real and I love all of them.

Now please excuse me while I channel “ethereal bog creature” and “apocalyptic witch-goddess” until they consume me and become my entire existence.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

The chemistry between Clem and Tom was OFF THE CHARTS. This whole story was incredible, a refreshing take on a rockstar romance with an introverted musician just keeping his head down, and his muse being the woman behind him the entire time. I loved their dynamic, as well as the dynamic with the band, Clem’s mom, and Tom’s family. There was nothing but green flags to be found here! Highly recommend!

Solid 3.5 stars. Would have been a 4, but parts felt predictable and some of the characters were really frustrating. If Not For My Baby was very much a cozy little romantic read. Perfect for a quiet weekend with a cup of tea and a scone.

Review: 4 stars

Woah, this book delivered in every way from the stunning cover to the epic romance and the feelsss!

Clementine is struggling to take care of her single mother with a condition of chronic pain flare ups. The only way to remedy that requires expensive treatment. She was offer an opportunity of a lifetime to fill in as a backup vocalist to Tom Holloran’s Tour, a rockstar. To raise the money for her mother's treatment, she decided to go for it. But then, she meet Tom and they unexpectedly fell in love - will her cynicism keep her from falling in love?

This book is beautiful. The relationship is pure music and passion with sweet, heartful and some occasional angst thrown in. I love the found family concept here as Clementine develop a bond with her bandmates too. The writing style of this book is amazing where everything felt so lyrical to it - it was like reading beautiful poetry where I could weep!

Thank you Berkley Publishing for providing me with an eARC through Netgalley.

Review: 4 stars (would love to give it a 5 but the reason is below…)

Woah, this book delivered in every way from the stunning cover to the epic romance and the feelsss!

Clementine Clark, a small town waitress is struggling to take care of her single mother with fibromyalgia, a condition that leaves her with chronic flare ups of pain and requires expensive treatment. An unexpected opportunity in the form of her close friend offers her the opportunity of a lifetime to fill in as a backup vocalist to Tom Holloran’s US Tour, a rising star in the making. Hoping that she could cover the expense needed for the mother’s medical needs, she took the opportunity! However, she met Tom and they unexpectedly fell in love - will their relationship defy the odds?

I admire Clem! She had to put her dreams of entering Broadway on hold to take care of her mum. So much that she feels guilty for leaving her mum for this opportunity. I love that she bonded with the band members and the others creating a found family while getting used to being on the road. She also misses being on stage so much and this was a great opportunity to enjoy herself before going back to her normal life. What she did not expect was to feel a magnetic pull and attraction to Tom Holloran, the rockstar. Tom is an interesting character, unlike the typical image most rockstars pull, he is a person that keeps to himself and apart from the other band members - where he just needs time to himself but is a presence on his own. Because of this, they didn’t get to know each other until an unexpected night by the hotel vending machine which slowly leads to friendship and falling in love. It also doesn’t help when Clem struggles with having never fallen in love and seeing past history of her mum constantly in love and always getting her heart broken.

This book is intense from the get go and delivers in all the feels of a beautiful love story in the making. Their relationship is magnetic, sweet, passionate and filled with wonderful musical moments thrown in with some yearning, angsty and deep moments. This will probably be my favourite romance read of the year. It's so good. The writing style of this book is amazing, it’s like reading beautiful poetry where everything just rhythms and makes sense - I am in awe of the way the author delivers it through emotions or in the lyrical moments littered throughout the book.

My only beep is the character of Tom Holloran is taken after Hozier which can be invasive. It’s down to the point where the character has very familiar characteristics to a real person which can be iffy. Hence the -1 star off.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for providing me with an arc via Netgalley.

This book felt like a huge invasion of privacy. The only reason I finished it was because I was gifted the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I know writers take inspiration from real people/events all the time, but this felt like crossing a line. The author took a notoriously private musician and didn’t even try to hide the fact that this (rather explicit) book was about him. Maybe I only took offense to it because I’m a big Hozier fan and I have the utmost respect for the guy, but when there are lines said by the character that are almost verbatim words the real man has said in real life, it’s too much. I have no idea how the publication of this book is even legal

4.5⭐️

If Not for My Baby is a rockstar romance that absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. It’s deeply moving, emotional, gorgeously written, and so full of yearning it hurts.

The story follows a shy, small-town waitress—who once dreamed of being a performer until life got in the way—who unexpectedly lands a spot as a backup singer on tour with a world-famous rockstar. He’s a reclusive, hopeless romantic who writes songs full of love, longing and heartbreak. She’s guarded and doesn’t believe in love. One impromptu vending machine meet-cute later, and the emotional push and pull between them is absolutely intoxicating.

The romance is sweet, tender, aching, and absolutely brimming with yearning. The emotional depth is paired with incredible chemistry and tension. The FMC is also relatable in her misgivings about life, love and her own worth.

But this isn’t just a story about romance; it’s a story about finding your voice, your people, and your place in the world. The found family vibe between the different band members is warm and wonderful. The FMC’s growth, from hesitant and unsure to confident and hopeful about her dreams and her deserving of them, is so beautifully rendered. And the MMC? Quiet, yet completely, devastatingly obsessed in the most swoony, charming way. The way he understands her, fears, dreams, insecurities and all; and never makes her feel small for them was simply stunning. He falls first and hard, and he YEARNS. I was absolutely here for it!

The writing is sublime, the prose is beautiful, the lyricism is gorgeous. There’s something about Kate Golden’s writing that just pulls you in and doesn’t let go. The emotional depth, the aching softness of the romance, and the way every moment feels intimate and real. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re living inside the lyrics of your favorite love song.

You know that feeling of reading something and feeling the emotions so vividly that it physically aches? That’s what you get with this book. It’s a masterpiece — about love, dreams, and the courage to believe you’re worthy of both. Please read this book!

This was my first book by Kate Golden, and will most definitely not be my last!

Thank you so very much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! It felt fresh and unique compared to all the romcoms ive read this year. This book follows the fmc who works at a bar and is a good singer. She stays in this town to be with her mother and doesn’t do relationships. She gets the opportunity to backup sing for a famous irish singer Tom and goes on tour with him and the other band members.

I loved the artist and tour aspect of the book and the forced proximity. I loved how the fmc was obsessed with the mmc’s music and how they slowly built a relationship. I also really liked all the music aspect and how both main characters grew individually and together. The romance was so cute and a bit steamy and i just had a good time reading. Thanks to Berkley for this arc for an honest review.